Is this sentence grammatically correct (colon usage)?

Question

"I believe that tyranny and oppression are made possible by the ignorance of a people: oppressor and oppressed alike, and that the “impoverishment of the means of verbal communication” is one of the best tools to create and maintain that ignorance."

Answer 1

Yeah, it looks like it to me. Just to be safe, change the colon to a semi-colon, and write 'both'  after the ;

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

No, don't use a colon. Use a comma, before "oppressor" and after "alike." Second best would be using a dash in the same places.

In terms of the content of the sentence, you seem to be contradicting yourself. You say the oppressor is also ignorant, but then you say he has one of the best tools... that sounds like he knows what he is doing.

Honestly I would just take the "oppressor and oppressed alike" out. Too bad because it has a nice rhythm to it.